After a lifetime of study, aurora still a mystery
Syun-Ichi Akasofu in his office.
Photos by Ned Rozell.
Sometimes, after idling in the sky for hours as a greenish glow, the aurora catches fire, erupting toward the magnetic north pole in magnificent chaos that can last for three hours. “Substorms,” as space physicists call them, can happen two or three times each night.
The man who came up with that name half a century ago has, with a former student he once mentored, come up with a new theory on the location of heavenly energy for these auroras.
Alaska Science Forum: After a lifetime of study, aurora still a mystery
By nrozell [at] gi [dot] alaska [dot] edu (Ned Rozell)
Sometimes, after idling in the sky for hours as a greenish glow, the aurora catches fire, erupting toward the magnetic north pole in magnificent chaos that can last for three hours. “Substorms,” as space physicists call them, can happen two or three times each night.
Donald Hampton
Oct. 2001-Present: Research Assistant Professor in Space Physics, Geophysical Institute, University of Alaska Fairbanks.
Nov. 2006-Oct. 2011: Optical Science Manager, Poker Flat Research Range and Geophysical Institute Chief Systems Engineer, Ozone Mapping and Profiler Suite (OMPS) Ball Aerospace & Technologies Corp.
2005-2006: Chief Systems Engineer, Ozone Mapping and Profiler Suite (OMPS) Ball Aerospace & Technologies Corp.
1999-2006: Systems Engineer, Deep Impact Instrument Suite, Ball Aerospace & Technologies Corp.
1996-1999: System Engineer, Ball Aerospace & Technologies Corp.
Lynch, K.A., D. Hampton, M. Mella, B. Zhang, H. Dahlgren, M. Disbrow, P.M. Kintner, M. Lessard, E. Lundberg and H.C. Stenbaek-Nielsen. (2012). Structure and dynamics of the nightside poleward boundary: Sounding rocket and ground-based observations of auroral electron precipitation in a rayed curtain. Journal of Geophysical Research, 117, A11202, doi: 10.1029/2012JA017691.
Nicolls, M.J., S.L. Vadas, J.W. Meriwether, M.G. Conde and D. Hampton. (2012). The phases and amplitudes of gravity waves propagating and dissipating in the thermosphere: Application to measurements over Alaska. Journal of Geophysical Research, 117, A05323, doi: 10.1029/2012JA017542.
Garner, T.W., R.B. Harris, J.A. York, C.S. Herbster, C.F. Minter III and D.L. Hampton. (2011). An auroral scintillation observation using precise, collocated GPS receivers. Radio Science, 46, RS1018, doi: 10.1029/2010RS004412.
Samara, M., R.G. Michell, K. Asamura, M. Hirahara, D.L. Hampton and H.C. Stenbaek-Nielsen. (2010). Ground-based observations of diffuse auroral structures in conjunction with Reimei measurements. Annales Geophysicae, 28, 873-881.
Semeter, J., T. Butler, C. Heinselman, M. Nicolls, J. Kelley, D. Hampton. (2009). Volumetric imaging of the auroral ionosphere: Intital results from PFISR. Journal of Atmospheric and Solar-Terrestrial Physics, 71, 738-743.
A'Hearn, M.J. et al. (35 in all, including D.L. Hampton). (2011). EPOXI at Comet Hartley 2. Science, 332(6036), 1396-1400, doi: 10.1126/science.1204054.
Sunshine, J.M., et al. (19 in all, including D.L. Hampton). (2005). Exposed water ice deposits on the surface of Comet 9P/Tempel 1. Science, 311, 1453-1455.
A'Hearn, M.F., et al. (33 in all, including D.L. Hampton). (2005). Deep Impact: Excavating Comet Tempel 1. Science, 310, 258-264, 14 October 2005.
Hampton, D.L., J.W. Baer, M.A. Huisjen, C.C. Varner, A. Delamere, D.D. Wellnitz, M.F. A'Hearn and K.P. Klaasen. (2005). An overview of the instrument suite for the Deep Impact mission. Space Science Review, 117, 43-93.
Hampton, D.L., M.J. Heavner, E.M. Wescott and D.D. Sentman. (1996). Optical spectral characteristics of sprites. Geophysical Research Letters, 23, 89-92.
Successful launch from Poker Flat Research Range
but then, a camera stationed downrange at Kaktovik, Alaska showed some promising aurora. From there, everything lined up to create the perfect conditions for the VISIONS sounding rocket to launch. At 11:21 p.m.
PDF DownloadAlaska Science Forum: Rocket parts picked up in northern Alaska
By nrozell [at] gi [dot] alaska [dot] edu (Ned Rozell)
Following up on a NASA promise to recover spent rocket parts scattered for decades across northern Alaska, workers for Poker Flat Research Range recovered more than 7,000 pounds of debris from 17 different sites in 2012.
Science for Alaska 2013
Mark your calendars for Science for Alaska 2013! Our 21st year of the popular lecture series will experience some changes. Lectures will take place in Schaible Auditorium on the UAF campus and occur on Saturdays throughout January. We're hoping the smaller space and the coffee to follow each of the lectures will lead to a more intimate exchange between our line-up of lecturers and the community.
Alaska Science Forum: Yakutat time, correcting some errors, big meeting in San Francisco
By nrozell [at] gi [dot] alaska [dot] edu (Ned Rozell)
NASA evaluates rocket program at PFRR: Draft EIS prepared, public meetings set for 2012
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration will host two public meetings to provide further information regarding its draft Environmental Impact Statement for its Sounding Rocket Program conducted at the University of Alaska Fairbanks' Poker Flat Research Range.
Installation of newest SuperDARN radar in Adak, Alaska
Construction of the newest SuperDARN radar recently wrapped in Adak, Alaska. The project was led by scientists at the Geophysical Institute, with participation from Virginia Tech, Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Lab and Dartmouth College.
